DIAX ACTIVATES NOKIA GPRS MOBILE NETWORK.

Swiss operator diAx has activated the first nationwide GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) mobile network in the country using Nokia GPRS technology, which meets the industry's latest commercial standards.

As a leading Swiss operator, diAx will now be able to offer new GPRS services across its network, covering over 90 per cent of the population. The greatest advantage of GPRS for mobile subscribers lies in the possibility to have continuous connectivity to the Internet, the corporate intranet or a WAP portal, for fast mobile access to new content-rich services, through Internet surfing and e-mail.

"diAx is playing a pioneering role in mobile data communications and is proud to activate Switzerland's first GPRS network provided by Nokia," said Frank Boller, CEO of diAx, "GPRS will enable our customers to remain permanently online and benefit from Internet or email access at any time."

Demand for new, innovative Internet related services is a growing trend that is driving mobile usage in networks today. GPRS will offer true global mass market wireless access to the Internet and other packet-based networks.

The Nokia GPRS system meets the SMG31 standard, which is the basis for complete compatibility with equipment from other vendors, as well as providing the ability to roam between operator networks. Roaming with GPRS is a fundamental requirement in order to make future global mobile Internet services possible, based on agreements with operators in various countries around the world.

"The launch of the diAx commercial GPRS network is a first for Nokia in Europe and further strengthens Nokia's position as the leader in GPRS," said Petri Poyhonen, Vice President. GPRS Business Program, Nokia Networks, "Nokia has built up unrivalled expertise of GPRS and this is helping our customers be the first in the launch of their services. An early launch of packet radio services is essentially the first step towards 3G and operators can begin to introduce new Mobile Internet services and applications today. "

The Nokia GPRS solution includes the industry's strongest and most efficient core GPRS system and Connecting@Care support services including applications consultancy and systems integration expertise to integrate the GPRS core network into the existing service delivery and billing environment. Since August 1999, Nokia has delivered and implemented more than 50 GPRS core networks to leading operators in Europe, USA, Asia and China, and now has the largest installed base of any supplier. All of Nokia's GPRS system deliveries are SMG31 compliant and support non-proprietary interfaces to the customer care and billing systems.

diAx is the only alternative Swiss provider of comprehensive services for the fixed network, mobile telecommunications and the Internet. The joint venture of diAx Holding - owned by more than 60 companies of the Swiss electricity industry, Swiss Re and Winterthur Life - and SBC Communications Inc., the second largest telecom corporation in the USA, currently employs more than 2,000 persons nationwide. The diAx mobile network is the most up-to-date GSM dual band infrastructure in the country and covers more than 90% of the population. With its more than 3,700 km long high-performance fiber optic network, diAx owns the second largest fixed network in Switzerland.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, broadband and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 60,000 people.

For more information, call + 358 9 5113 8193 or visit http://www.nokia.com.